Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Shroom "Steak" Dinner

Who says vegans can't have steak? Grilled portabella mushrooms are just as hearty and way better for your heart than nasty old, bloody cow flesh. Even though it's not totally Southern, I wanted to include a Mushroom Steak recipe in my vegan Southern cookbook since folks down here love their steak.

This was my first attempt:

Yea, yea. I know it looks like a big round turd. But portabellas don't photograph well. I tried to cut a piece out to make it less, um, round. But it still looks weird. The taste, however, was quite nice.

But I could use a little help. It was my first attempt marinating and grilling a portabella. I've eaten my share, and I've cooked with baby bellas. But never a whole giant shroom. The taste was yummy, but something was missing. It needed more of a chargrilled steak flavor.

I was thinking about adding some bottled steak sauce to the mix next time. What do you guys think? Any tips?

On the side, I made some super-yummy Fried Cucumbers:

These are sooooo going in the cookbook. My neighbor Wes suggested I try this because his mom used to make them all the time when he was growing up in the country. I'd had fried pickles, but never cucumbers. But since we deep fry every veggie in the South, it makes perfect sense. I actually prefer the fried cukes to fried pickles. Of course. the secret is in the batter. These were perfect dipped in Organicsville Non-Dairy Ranch Dressing.

Ughgh! Feel my rage! How could you not include a fried cucumber recipe....they sound swoon worthy! The ethos of southern cooking is the best. Batter it and deep fry it and it's guaranteed to be tasty!

Aren't portabellos the best? I love love love them. I marinate them and thin slice them and cook them in barbecue sauce to make the most perfect slided barbecue sandwich. As for a more char grilled steak flavor...hmmm....I will think on that and get back to you.

I agree with you - portabello mushrooms don't photograph well. I've tried it myself. As for the fried cucumbers, I've never heard of anything like that! I usually eat mine with fresh lime juice and chili powder or salt

i think the shroom looks mightly tasty! and i also think that a steak sauce would be good to marinate 'em it in, too. it would give them a little more zing or something. or maybe rubbing them with some spices might be tasty, too?!

fried cukes = holyawesomeface! those guys look damn delicious! and i still need to find that dressing. maybe i'll do that today! w00t!

I marinate for a couple of hours. Then I coat the shrooms in a steak seasoning and grill them. The crust from the steak seasoning gives it a meaty flavor and texture. Try it and tell me what you think.

I love grilled mushrooms to pieces!! I usually just slather bbq sauce on it...but then again, I eat everything with bbq sauce on it. I know exactly what you mean about everything in the south being fried...but I've never heard of cucumbers...how awesome!!

those fried cukes look like crunchy browned perfection. OMG. My last attempt at taking a portobello photo? Don told me it looked like the portobello "bled out" because I smothered it in pesto. And he was right. :)

I'm not much of a great cook, as you know, but my Dad coats his meat steaks in steak seasoning (like the kind you buy already mixed together..I see someone already suggested this)and then I think he uses a smoky flavored BBQ sauce on chicken...not so much steak, but I bet it would still taste good. Now finding one that doesn't have HFCS in it? Good luck.

I'm not much of a great cook, as you know, but my Dad coats his meat steaks in steak seasoning (like the kind you buy already mixed together..I see someone already suggested this)and then I think he uses a smoky flavored BBQ sauce on chicken...not so much steak, but I bet it would still taste good. Now finding one that doesn't have HFCS in it? Good luck.

Fried cucumbers! I totally want to test for you, and if you don't let me I'll throw a fit. The mushroom looks great, the marinade sounds about right to me. I'm not that great with marinades though. From what I remember, steak sauce tastes pretty similar to Worcestershire, but it couldn't hurt to try.

i just saute my portabello shrooms in a bit of seasoning really. u know, those small Maggi seasoning bottles? that's all it takes n the smell makes me go to high heaven! and the taste..yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm~